Introduction to American Government

Themes in American Political History

What Political Scientists Do

Social sciences study how people interact with and relate to one another. The
study of American government, with its emphasis on political systems and the
distribution of power, falls into this larger academic category. Like other
disciplines within political science, the study of American government draws from
some other social sciences, including sociology, economics, psychology, and
anthropology.

Sociology

Sociology studies social life and human interactions, from how groups form
to how large organizations run to how people interact with one another. In their
analyses of American government, scholars make use of sociological studies and
methods when examining, for example, how small group dynamics affect the
decision-making process, how people acquire and maintain power, and how
political culture shapes our attitudes.

Economics

Politics and economics often intersect. Studying government without also
studying economics, especially in free-market societies such as the United
States, is not possible. Scholars in this field examine such economic issues as
the effects government policy has on the economy, the role money plays in
campaigns, and how nations arrive at trade agreements.

Psychology

Psychology studies the way the human mind works, helping us to understand
why people behave the way that they do. The insights of psychology are sometimes
used to analyze a president’s or voter’s behavior or to explain why some people
are more prone to supporting certain governments and ideologies.

Anthropology

Anthropology examines cultures within a society and theorizes about how
those cultures affect society. Anthropologists also explore how people acquire
cultural values. Because culture often has a strong effect on behavior, scholars
rely on anthropological studies and methods to draw conclusions about American
political culture and behavior.